The ongoing heatwave is expected to continue affecting Sindh, southern Punjab, and Balochistan till April 18, while a shallow westerly wave is influencing the upper parts of the country and may persist until April 20.

Hot and dry conditions are likely to dominate most areas on Thursday, with extremely high temperatures in the southern regions. However, dust or thunderstorms with isolated rain are forecast for upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan during the night.

Over the past 24 hours, hot and dry weather prevailed across much of the country, with very high temperatures recorded in southern areas. Rain accompanied by winds and thunderstorms, and in some areas hail, occurred in the Pothohar region, Islamabad, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Recorded rainfall included: Islamabad – Bokra 12mm, Airport 11mm, Golra 10mm, Saidpur 08mm, Zero Point 04mm; Rawalpindi – Shamsabad 08mm, Chaklala 04mm; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Takhtbai 12mm, Dir (Lower) 06mm, Malam Jabba 06mm, Balakot, Pattan, Cherat 01mm; Gilgit-Baltistan – Chilas 01mm.

The highest temperatures on Wednesday were recorded in Sibbi, Padidan, and Shaheed Benazirabad at 47°C, while Khanpur, Bahawalpur, Rohri, Dadu, Mohenjo-Daro, and Jacobabad reached 46°C.

In Islamabad, hot and dry weather is expected to continue on Thursday.

In Balochistan, most districts are likely to remain dry and hot, with isolated dust or thunderstorms expected during evening or night in Zhob, Musa Khel, Barkhan, and adjoining areas.

In Punjab, upper and central regions will remain under heatwave conditions, with temperatures 6 to 8°C above normal.

In Kashmir, dry weather is forecast for the daytime, with partly cloudy skies and isolated rain or thunderstorms likely at night.